Smiley About: St. Louis Uber Ridershare Driver Michael S. Mason

Smiley Rideshare Driver Michael: Itty Bitty Bio

Hi, my name is Michael, and I was born in South Texas in a region know as The Rio Grande Valley, 39 years ago. I have personally witnessed the highs and lows of growing up in an impoverished border region. Learning to live peacefully as a minority within Hispanic majority culture, has not been the typical American experience nor very easy, but it is a great influence in my life. In addition, sharing living space with a country that honors different societal norms has presented its own unique tests, formed within me a unique perception, and contributed to invaluable insight.

Smiley Rideshare Driver Michael: Driving Through Obstacles Sense 1978

Life has also held other obstacles for me, including mental illness and overcoming the hurdles that come because of a late life diagnosis (ADHD, ASD, Bi-Polar Type I).

In my life, at home and at school, I am continually learning to be a servant leader, while at the same time self-medicating my soul through my hobbies of photography and playing the guitar. In the past have had the privilege to serve in a chaplain’s role for both the elderly and the homeless for over nine years. In this role, I have been made aware of the broken lives of others, realizing that we are not very much different, and I want to help.

Smiley About Rideshare Driver Michael: Education

Following this path, as of May 2014, I hold an Associates Degree from the St. Louis Community College, a Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Missouri St. Louis and am currently a graduate student at UMSL in psychological counseling. I have come to a peace that my life’s challenges were in preparation for this calling.

Smiley About Rideshare Driver Michael: Total Package

All these factors are only a few of the ingredients that make up the husband, father, and community servant that is Michael. It is my professional passion and goal to support all those looking to overcome mental illness, developmental disabilities or other underlying cause that could lead any person towards the societal margins and/or self-destruction (In it’s many forms). In conclusion, it may be impossible for anyone to fully understand the depth and pain of specific circumstances; it would be condescending for anyone to say they could. However, I do believe that by sharing similar experiences, this is the unique perception and invaluable insight that does/will allow me to listen and share openly with empathy and compassion.

When Smiley Met Michael

Hi this is :-). I wanted to share a little bit with you about how Michael and I got together. Michael is currently in his second semester of graduate school. In his first semester, he had a really stressful job. That job did allow him much time for himself, let alone for school. The pay was low, but he had many duties, and when his physical, emotional, and academic health were in jeopardy, he left that position.

Unfortunately, bills still needed to be paid and graduate school still needed to be completed, so Michael needed a new job. One day, while searching the Internet for new opportunities, he saw that Uber was looking for new drivers in his area. Michael has always loved to drive, and with a clean driving record, professional attitude, and natural gift for sales, it seemed like a good fit for what he needed in a job.

Michael loved the job, but couple of weeks into it, he noticed that he felt lonely between calls. His vehicle felt empty, and he missed his family.

One day, he went in to take a personal break in a local mall. He was wandering around, thinking about his work and his family…and then he saw me! I was in a stack of other emoji pillows, waiting for a new friend to notice me. I sat there and smiled at him with my tongue out. Michael looked at me and smiled.

“Hey,” he greeted me. “I’m gonna pick you up and you’re going to set me apart from other drivers. With you, I will always have a passenger, and you’ll help the other passengers know they’re going to have a great ride when they ride with us.”

That was nearly 900 trips ago! In that time, I have been the silent watcher of traffic, and I have been the silent listener to all the interesting conversations that has taken place in the vehicle. I have watched Michael grow both personally and in his business sense.

I hope you know that with me you’re never riding alone and that I may bring a smile to your face. :-)